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July 30, 1963 P. w. KING 3,099,127

REPEAT ALARM DEVICE I Filed Feb. 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

FIG. 1

(D to w INVENTOR PHILLIP W. KING ATTORNE July 30, 1963 P. w. KING REPEAT ALARM DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1961 INVENTOR PHILLIP W. KING ATTORNEYS United States Patent s earer REPEAT ALARM DEVECE Phillip W. King, Meriden, Conn, assignor to The Sessions Clock Qempany, Forestville, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut rum Feb. 8, 1961,e2t'.N0- smszs Ciaims. (Cl. fi -16) This invention relates generally to alarm clocks and more particularly to a repeat alarm device of improved construction.

Heretorfore, it has been proposed to provide a means in cooperation with a clock alarm permitting a user to interrupt or shutoff the alarm for a predetermined short interval. A known prior device having this function is illustrated and described in the US. patent to Phaneuf, which issued on January 12, 1960 as Patent No. 2,920,- 438. In a device of the type, a vibratory alarm element is damped or shut-oif for a predetermined short interval by a mechanism which cooperates with the clock gearing. tlertain problems are seen however in connection with the ei'iiciency, construction, and dependability of operation of the foregoing repeat alarm system which are greatly obviated by the present invention.

In its broadest form, the invention provides a repeat alarm device for a clock including a vibratory element and a damping arm mounted for movement into and out of contact with the element for assuming respectively, alarm-off and alarm-0n positions. The damping arm carries an interval lever which is moved into engagement with a portion of the clock gearing when the damping arm is moved into the alarm-off position. The latter movement will be accomplished, for example, by depressing a button on the clock casing. Light spring means are provided for snapping the interval lever into a position where it may engage the clock gearing and for maintaining the interval lever against the clock gearing as it drives the lever out of engagement therewith. Separate heavy spring means operative against the damping arm will snap the arm out of contact with the vibratory element when the interval lever has been driven out of engagement with the clock gearing. The arrangement is such that the loading of the heavy spring means against the damping arm is never exerted counter to the direction of rotation of the clock gearing but in eifect tends to neutralize any loading of the light spring thereagainst. Thus the parts are returned positively and decisively to the alarm off position without subjecting the clock timing mechanism to appreciable additional forces due to the imposition of the repeat alarm mechanism.

As a further more specific aspect of the invention, the interval lever is constructed with an L-shaped sector defining gear teeth which are selectively brought into engagement with the clock gearing and subsequently positively withdrawn from contact therewith when the interval lever has been driven out of engagement. The movement of the interval lever during the sequence is materially assisted by the light spring means interconnected with the interval lever and the damping arm in an over-center linkage. The action of re light spring means in this respect is substantialiy independent of the heavy spring means utilized for returning the damping arm to its alarm on position. Moreover, the structural relationship of the interval lever, the clock gearing and the heavy spring means is such that pressure acting upon the interval lever from the heavy spring means tends to oifset or neutralize forces acting upon the clock gearing for driving the interval gear out of engagement therewith.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent upon a detailed examination of the following description or" a particular embodiment and of the accompanying drawing in which:

Patented July 30, i963 FIG. 1 shows a side view of an alarm clock with portions of the clock casing removed, and incorporating the novel repeat alarm device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing several of the parts of the repeat alarm device in the alarm on position;

PEG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the alarm off position; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1, showing several of the parts of the device in the alarm off position.

Referring now to the drawing and specifically to FIG. 1, reference numeral flit designates an alarm clock having a casing 11, and intermediate and forward mounting plates l2, 13. A motor 14 is mounted to plate 12 and is adapted to drive associated clock gearing 1.6. The hands of the clock (not shown) are mounted upon the ends of coaxial shafts 17, 1S, and 19 which extend for a distance forward of the plate 13.

The clock ll includes a resiliently mounted vibratory plate 22, which carries and is rigidly attached to a hammer-like impact member 24 as shown in FIG. 4. An extension 26 of the member 24 is adapted to be excited by the alternating current and magnetic fiux of the motor 14, causing the plate 22 and the member 24 to vibrate unless restrained. The member 24 is adapted to successively impact against a rigid finger 27 thus causing an alarm sound. The finger 27 protrudes through an opening 28 in plate 22 and through a rectangular opening 29 in the mounting plate 12. The finger-27 is an extension of a resilient bifurcated member 3% held by two oppositely disposed slotted tangs 31 projecting from the plate 12.

Two alarm gears 32, 38 are coaxially mounted upon a shaft 34. The forward gear 3 2 is rotated by the pinion 35 of the clock gearing 16, and the rear gear 33 meshes with pinion 3d of the clock gearing. The gear 33 may be rotated manually relative to gear 32. by the knob 37, which will also rotate pinion 36 for turning an alarm pointer on the face of the clock dial (not shown). The gear 33 is spring-biased toward the gear 32 by the bifurcated member 30 by contacting a frusto-conical base portion 58 thereof. Gear 33 has a bevelled projection 3% mounted to its rearwardly disposed surface which is adapted, after predetermined relative rotation of the gears 32, 33 to drop into the mating slot 39 in the gear 32. When this occurs, the member 30 will force the gears 3-2, 33 into nesting contact, which action causes the member 3% to rock forward about its connection with the tangs 31. This causes the finger 27 to be moved out of contact with the impact member 24, permitting the alarm to sound. The alarm may be shut oif manually, by pushing the knob 40 and its associated shaft 41, slidably mounted to the shaft 34, thereby bringing a forward portion 41', of the shaft against the plate 22 to inhibit vibration. Spring fingers 42a are provided for holding the shaft 4d in the latter position.

The foregoing description does not relate specifically to the present invention but has been described as a conventional alarm mechanism which is adapted to cooperate with the repeat time device of the present invention.

Accordingly, the novel repeat time device includes a vibratory damping arm 42. which is pivotally mounted at ,3 to the plate 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The damping arm 42 carries a follower 44 which will normally ride against a generally semi-circular peripheral cut-out 46 defined by an actuating lever 46. The lever 45 is pivotally mounted to the plate 12 at 47 and has a portion 48 which contacts the base or" a button 4-9 mounted for slidable movement through an upper part of the clock casing. The lever 46 is resiliently biased against downward movement of the button '49 by a spring 5d, the pressure of spring 50 acting to hold the button in its projected position, unless depressed. Thus, when the button 49 is pressed downwardly, the lever 4-6 will rotate an end 42 of the damping arm 42 into contact with the impact member 24- carried by the vibratory plate 22. This effectively prevents the plate 22 and impact member 24 from vibrating. A relatively heavy leaf spring 45 is attached to the plate 12 and slides under a part of the arm 42, operating to urge the contact end 42 out of engagement with impact member 24.

The damping arm 42, opposite its pivot 43, forms two extensions 51, 51. An interval lever 52 is pivotally mounted at 53 to extension 51. A spring 54 exerting a very light tension force interconnects the interval lever and extension 51. The connection of the spring 54 to the interval lever and extension 51 is by an over-center arrangement relative to the pivot attachment 53 of the interval lever. Accordingly, the pivot will be situated to the left of the spring 54- When the parts are in the position of FIG. 2 and when the parts are in the position of FIG. 3, the pivot 53 be positioned to the right of the spring 54.

The interval lever 52 has an L-shaped sector 56 which defines gear teeth 57. The lever 52 may be brought into engagement with a clock driven pinion 58 by depressing the button 49. This action rotates the damping arm into contact with the impact lever 24- and at the same time raises the extension 511 thereof and the interval lever 52. A portion 52 of the latter is brought into sliding contact with a mounting post 60 to move the pivot 53 to the right of the line of spring 54'. This causes the over-center connection of the spring 54 with extension 51 and the interval lever 52 to swing the lever into a position where it may drop into engagement with the pinion 58 (see FIG. 3). The interval lever is prevented from swinging too far toward the pinion 58 by a stop projection 59 depending from the interval lever. In this position, the end of the damping arm 42 opposite its pivot point 51, will be held against the impact member 24 to prevent the latter from sounding an alarm. Thereafter, the pinion 53 will, after a short interval of perhaps to 7 minutes, drive the lever 52 out of engagement with the pinion. When the interval lever has become disengaged it will be snapped completely out of contact therewith by the spring 54 which has assumed the over-center position of FIG. 2. Simultaneously, the spring 45 will snap the damping arm 42 out of contact with the impact member 24, permitting the alarm to operate.

It will be noted that the geometric arrangement of the parts in their position of FIG. 3 is such that a line of forces acting through the interval lever upon the pinion 58 by the imposition of the relatively heavy spring 45 is in the direction of rotation of the pinion. That is to say, the gear teeth 57 of the interval lever have their points of contact with teeth of the pinion in the upper quadrant thereof nearest the interval lever. The pressure thus exerted by the heavy spring is not counter the rotation of the pinion, but operates to neutralize or cancel out the pressure from the light spring 54 maintaining the interval lever toward the pinion 58. Of course, the latter pressure is extremely slight in any event, and decreases as the lever 52 approaches its over-center position respective of spring 54. The effective pressure of the heavy spring 45 against the pinion is also directed almost diametrically so that this force will not tend materially to induce greater rotation of the pinion, but rather, as mentioned, merely ne tralize the effect of the light spring 54.

It will be appreciated therefore that the disclosed novel repeat alarm device employs separate light and heavy spring means which more efiiciently perform their separate functions than would be possible where, for example, a single spring were utilized. In addition, the loading effects of either the light or heavy springs are effectively cancelled out in relation to the clock gearing when the repeat alarm mechanism is in engagement therewith.

The foregoing description relates to a particular embodiment only and is therefore merely representative. In order more fully to appreciate the spirit and scope of the present invention, reference should be made to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a repeating alarm clock mechanism including a clock supporting structure, an alarm system having alarmoff and alarm-on conditions, a damping arm having a portion movable into and out of an alarm-off position and an alarm-on position, clock gear means continually rotated as a function of time by said clock, an interval lever carried by said damping arm and movable relative thereto, said interval lever adapted to be engaged with said clock gear means when said damping arm is moved into the alarm-off position, and a heavy spring means operative against said damping arm to urge said damping arm into the alarm-on position when said interval lever has become disengaged from said gear means, the improvement wherein said damping arm includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion includes a first point of pivotal connection to said interval lever, a light overcentering toggle spring connects a second point on said upper portion and a third point on said interval lever, and said first point and said second point define a line of reference, whereby upon displacement of said third point in a first direction through said line of reference, said interval lever is urged by said toggle spring in the direction of said displacement into engagement with said clock gear means and upon displacement of said third point in a second direction through said line of reference said interval lever is urged by said toggle spring in the direction of said displacement out of engagement with said clock gear means.

2. A repeating arm clock mechanism according to claim 1 in which said interval lever is provided with gear teeth to cooperate with said clock gear means, whereby said interval lever is adapted to be positively driven by said clock gear means in the alarm-off position.

3. An alarm clock mechanism according to claim 2 which includes a guiding surface and a stopping surface disposed proximately of said interval lever, said guiding surface is adapted upon pivotal movement of said damping arm into said alarm-off position to engage slidingly said interval lever to guide the movement thereof, whereby said third point is caused to be displaced from said line of action in the direction of said pinion, and said stopping surface engages said upper portion to limit the pivotal movement of said damping arm when said damping arm is moved into the alarm-oft position.

4. A repeating alarm clock mechanism according to claim 3 which includes a clock casing, a button projecting from said casing and slidably mounted therein, an actuating lever rotatably mounted to said clock supporting structure and having a portion engaging said button, a spring urging said portion of said actuating lever against said button thereby urging said button into a projected alarm-on position, said actuating lever defining cam means, and said damping arm carrying a cam follower cooperative with said cam means for moving said damping arm into the alarm-off position when said button is depressed, said heavy spring means comprising a leaf spring having a free end slidably engaging said damping arm and urging said damping arm into the alarm-on position, the other end of said leaf spring being secured to said clock supporting structure.

5. In a repeating alarm clock mechanism including a clock supporting structure, an alarm system having alarmoff and alarm-on conditions, a damping arm having a portion movable into and out of an alarm-off position and an alarm-on position, clock gear means continually rotated as a function of time by said clock, an interval lever carried by said damping arm and movable relative thereto, said interval lever adapted to be engaged with said clock gear means when said damping arm is moved enema? into the alarm-off position, and a heavy spring means operable against said damping arm to urge said damping anrn into the alarm-on position when said interval iever has become disengaged from said gear means, the iniprovernent wherein said interval lever is movable in first and second directions between alarm-ofi: and alarm-on positions, said alarm system includes a selectively aetuabie alarm-01f lever means, said damping arm is moved into its alarm-oil? position by said alarm-off lever and is maintained in its alarm-oil position during the engagement of said interval lever With said cioel; gear means, and a light overeentering toggle spring means acts between said interval lever and said damping arm to hold said interval lever alternately in said enga ed and disengaged position.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,996,874 Char-tier et al. Aug. 22, 1961 

1. IN A REPEATING ALARM CLOCK MECHANISM INCLUDING A CLOCK SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, AN ALARM SYSTEM HAVING ALARMOFF AND ALARM-ON CONDITIONS, A DAMPING ARM HAVING A PORTION MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF AN ALARM-OFF POSITION AND AND ALARM-ON POSITION, CLOCK GEAR MEANS CONTINUALLY ROTATED AS A FUNCTION OF TIME BY SAID CLOCK, AN INTERVAL LEVER CARRIED BY SAID DAMPING ARM AND MOVABLE RELATIVE THERETO, SAID INTERVAL LEVER ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED WITH SAID CLOCK GEAR MEANS WHEN SAID DAMPING ARM IS MOVED INTO THE ALARM-OFF POSITION, AND A HEAVY SPRING MEANS OPERATIVE AGAINST SAID DAMPING ARM TO URGE SAID DAMPING ARM INTO THE ALARM-ON POSITION WHEN SAID INTERVAL LEVER HAS BECOME DISENGAGE FROM SAID GEAR MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN SAID DAMPING ARM INCLUDES AN UPPER PORTION AND A LOWER PORTION, SAID LOWER PORTION INCLUDES A FIRST POINT OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID INTERVAL LEVER, A LIGHT OVERCENTERING TOGGLE SPRING CONNECTS A SECOND POINT ON SAID UPPER PORTION AND A THIRD POINT ON SAID INTERVAL LEVER, AND SAID FIRST POINT AND SAID SECOND POINT DEFINE A LINE OF REFERENCE, WHEREBY UPON DISPLACEMENT OF SAID THIRD POINT IN A FIRST DIRECTION THROUGH SAID LINE OF REFERENCE, SAID INTERVAL LEVER IS URGED BY SAID TOGGLE SPRING IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID DISPLACEMENT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CLOCK GEAR MEANS AND UPON DISPLACEMENT OF SAID THIRD POINT IN A SECOND DIRECTION THROUGH SAID LINE OF REFERENCE SAID INTERVAL LEVER IS URGED BY SAID TOGGLE SPRING IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID DISPLACEMENT OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CLOCK GEAR MEANS. 